Begonia plant named ‘Bbvolbro’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘Bbvolbro’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; freely flowering habit; double flowers with light yellow and red bi-colored tepals; and excellent flower longevity.

Botanical designation: Begonia×hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Bbvolbro’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Begonia Plant Named ‘Bbvolkra’; Josef Heuger, Applicant.

Begonia Plant Named ‘Bbvolvir’; Josef Heuger, Applicant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially known asElatior Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Bbvolbro’.

The new Begonia was discovered and selected by the Inventor in acontrolled environment in Glandorf, Germany in May, 2000, as anaturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Begonia×hiemaliscultivar Genie, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,886. The new Begoniawas observed as a single plant in a group of flowering plants of theparent selection.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Glandorf, Germany since 2001, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Begonia are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Bbvolbro’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Bbvolbro’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Bbvolbro’ as a new and distinct Begonia:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely flowering habit.    -   3. Double flowers with light yellow and red bi-colored tepals.    -   4. Excellent flower longevity.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the parent, thecultivar Genie. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Glandorf,Germany, plants of the new Begonia differed from plants of the cultivarGenie in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia had shorter leaves than plants of        the cultivar Genie.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia had smaller cymes than plants of        the cultivar Genie.    -   3. Plants of the new Begonia and the cultivar Genie differed in        tepal coloration as plants of the cultivar Genie had light        salmon red and yellow bi-colored tepals.    -   4. Plants of the new Begonia and the cultivar Genie differed in        pedicel and flower bract coloration as plants of the cultivar        Genie had yellow orange-colored pedicels and flower bracts.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the cultivarBbvolkra, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.11/114,523, and the cultivar Bbvolvir, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 11/114,521. In side-by-side comparisons conductedin Glandorf, Germany, plants of the new Begonia differed from plants ofthe cultivars Bbvolkra and Bbvolvir primarily in tepal coloration.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of the cultivar00/3, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,208. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Glandorf, Germany, plants of the new Begoniadiffered primarily from plants of the cultivar 00/3 in tepal colorationas plants of the cultivar 00/3 had orange red and yellow bi-coloredtepals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Bbvolbro’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotograph and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands during the spring and summer underconditions typical of commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse.During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures rangedfrom 15 to 20° C. and light levels were about 18,000 lux. Plants usedfor the photograph and the description were grown in 13-cm containersand were about three months old when the photograph and description weretaken.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Bbvolbro.-   Commercial classification: Elatior Begonia.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the    Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Genie, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.    12,886.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at temperatures of            20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 20 to 35 days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous and freely branched. Plants            of the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and habit.—Compact, upright and mounded plant            habit; freely branching with about five to six basal            branches per plant.        -   Moderately vigorous.—Vegetative shoots are formed at basal            nodes and flowering shoots are formed at upper nodes.        -   Plant height.—About 20 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 20 to 25 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 8 to 13 cm. Diameter: About            1 to 3 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144B.        -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About 6 cm.            Width: About 5 cm. Shape: Roughly ovate; asymmetrical. Apex:            Acute. Base: Cordate. Margin: Doubly crenate. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Venation            pattern: Palmate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface:            136A. Developing leaves, lower surface: 139A. Fully expanded            leaves, upper and lower surfaces: 136B. Venation, upper and            lower surfaces: 136B. Petiole length: About 4 to 6 cm.            Petiole diameter: About 4 mm. Petiole texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Petiole color, upper and            lower surfaces: 136B. Stipule quantity: One to two per leaf.            Stipule size: About 1 cm by 1 cm. Stipule texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Stipule color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 136A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Double flowers with about 10 to 15 tepals            per flower; flowers arranged in axillary cymes; about five            to six open flowers per cyme; numerous cymes in flower            simultaneously; about 25 to 30 open flowers per plant.            Flowers positioned above and beyond the foliage and face            upright to outwardly. Flowers not fragrant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Under natural daylight conditions,            plants flower from spring until the fall. Flower initiation            and development is induced by long day/short night            conditions. Flowering continuous under photoinductive            conditions.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four to five            weeks on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Cyme height.—About 4 to 5 cm.        -   Cyme diameter.—About 5 to 7 cm.        -   Flowers.—Shape: Oval to rounded; double. Diameter: About 4            to 5 cm. Depth (height): About 1 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About            2 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 158A.        -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Rossette. Shape: Obovate to rounded.            Apex: Rounded. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Crenate. Length: About            2 to 3 cm. Width: About 3 to 4 cm. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color: When opening,            upper surface: Close to 158C. When opening, lower surface:            Close to 158A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 158C to            155D; towards the margins, 46D. Fully opened, lower surface:            Close to 158A to 155B; towards the margins, 46D.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity: Two per flower. Arrangement:            Opposite. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape:            Broadly cordate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 155D.        -   Peduncles.—Angle: About 30 to 45° from vertical. Length:            About 4 to 5 cm. Diameter: About 3 to 4 mm. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144B.        -   Pedicels.—Angle: About 30 to 45° from vertical. Length:            About 2 to 3 cm. Diameter: About 1 to 3 mm. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 49C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None            observed.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed            as reproductive organs are not formed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Begonia have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Begonia.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘Bbvolbro’, asillustrated and described.